Description
Project will help prevent exclusion of and discrimination against people with motor disabilities, mothers who push baby prams, and senior citizens who have problems getting around Warsaw in an efficient and comfortable way due to numerous architectural barriers, lack of relevant infrastructural solutions, and inadequate social empathy. Project purpose is to eliminate the reasons and symptoms of exclusion, and to raise awareness of the issue and the ways it can be addressed among those who discriminate and those are discriminated against. Project will help all residents of the capital city use public space with convenience through interventions, activation of people who are discriminated against, amplifying the problem, and social education. Project activities include regular meetings with people at risk of exclusion, training for bus drivers and students of architecture, organising 4 happenings and a city game, undertaking intervention in 40 cases and submission of 3 projects to reduce the risk of exclusion of people with difficulties getting around the city for the Warsaw participatory budget.
Summary of project results
"The “Warsaw Barrier Map"" (Association for Integrating Communication in the Capital) identifies about 1,100 architectonic barriers. The “Living with Disabilities in Warsaw 2010"" report (More Loved Association of Parents and Protectors of People with Down Syndrome) describes the city centre as a high problem area (high kerbs, underpasses, non-access railway and bus stations, no-access bus/tram stops, hoisting platforms out of service). Poor empathy levels of drivers and other passengers/ traffic participants are also an issue. The project goal was to prevent the exclusion of persons with limited mobility from public space and transport by eliminating risk factors and improving general awareness. Forty-nine barriers were liquidated (30 levelled, 19 commissioned for liquidation). Public space inaccessibility to persons with limited mobility in central locations (Central Railway Station and adjacent roundabout, stops along the W-Z route) was publicised. Seventy public transportation drivers, 25 students, 7 city officials and 3 architects were sensitised to disabled persons' issues. Three group and 5 individual meetings were held with disabled persons, senior citizens, and parents of children in wheelchairs (36 persons in total) to spot barriers (a weekly call-in service was also set up). Seventy-seven interventions resolved issues of inaccessible bus/tram stops, tall kerbs, out-of-service lifts and hoisting platforms, lack of ramps, narrow pedestrian traffic routes, etc.). Six participation budget projects were drafted. Four happenings (approximately 100 participants), a city game (41 participants), 4 training sessions (on disability types and related needs) for 70 public transport drivers, and 2 universal design training sessions for 25 students, 3 architects and 7 public officials were held. The project reached disabled persons, senior citizens, and guardians of young children (36 in all¬), and around 250 persons who improved their knowledge in training, the city game, and happenings."
Summary of bilateral results